What to do in Sundsvall - 17 tips for Drakstaden

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: May 2026 | Looking for things to do in Sundsvall? This beautiful city is known for Stenstan and its charming dragons. We visited the city for a few days to find out what it has to offer. Here are the best sights, tips and a complete itinerary for 2 days.

Sundsvall

We visited Sundsvall by campervan, and this nice city surprised us positively. Above all, we appreciated the nice Stenstan and Norra Berget, with its open-air museum.

Planning more trips? Don't miss our guides to Skellefteå and Umeå

17 things to do in Sundsvall

Sundsvall is a super nice city. Here you will find 17 things that we can recommend in Sundsvall.

1. Walk along the river Selångersån.

The Selångersån River flows through Sundsvall, which flows into the Sundsvallsbukten Bay, where you can see the mighty Sundsvallsbron. The river provides a lovely environment and along it it is nice to walk or cycle, or like us, take the electric scooter.

There are a few different cafes and restaurants along the river, and we settled on Ågläntan Bar & Café. Here we each ate a fairly simple dish, pork fillet and chips, and enjoyed the sun and the fantastic location.

2. strolling in Stone Town

After the dramatic fire of 1888, when 9,000 people lost their homes, a whole new neighbourhood was built in stone. In just six years, 600 buildings were erected, made possible by favourable insurance conditions and wealthy wooden patrons.

Sweden's top architects were hired to build Stenstan, and the result was a bourgeois neighbourhood reminiscent of continental cities. We were really impressed by Stenstan, which is very similar to Östermalm in Stockholm, and is the world's most northerly neighbourhood in this continental style.

3. check out Sundsvall's dragons

The first dragon in Sundsvall is said to have been a dragon on top of one of the houses in Stenstan, where it stood to protect against fires and disasters. Since then, the dragon has come to symbolise the city and the words 'dragon' or 'dragon city' are used by several different companies.

More than a century after the first dragon saw the light of day in Stone Town, the 'Dragon Parade' was born. Every year, during the summer season, kites are placed all over the city, painted by local artists and sponsored by local businesses. The kites really existed everywhere as we walked around the city. Charming!

4. Peek inside Gustav Adolf's church

Located in the centre of Sundsvall, Gustav Adolf's Church is a church building in the Gothic Revival style. The church was built in 1894, after the previous church was destroyed in the great fire of 1888, and much of the interior dates from a remodelling carried out in 1952.

5. Discover Kulturmagasinet

One thing you don't want to miss in Sundsvall is checking out Kulturmagasinet. Here you will find Sundsvall's museum, but also a library, shop and café.

We looked around the museum, which turned out to be very interesting. There are nice exhibitions that tell about the culture and history of the area, but also showcase art.

6. Hang out at Sundsvall's guest harbour

Sundsvall's guest harbour is a nice area where you can stroll along the water, and where there is also a café. We bought an ice cream in the harbour kiosk and made a stop at the "kissing station".

As we continued along the waterfront, we also found several fine works of art.

7. Have fun at Himlabadet

In the centre of Sundsvall you will find the popular adventure pool Himlabadet. There are adventure pools, children's pools and whirlpools, as well as a climbing wall, sauna and relaxation area.

8. Watch a football match with Gif Sundsvall

One thing you can do in Sundsvall, if you like sports, is to watch a football match with the local football team Gif Sundsvall. The venerable club plays its home games at the NP3 Arena in the centre of town.

9. Have a drink at the Clarion Hotel's rooftop bar

Clarion Hotel Sundsvall is located right next to Selångersån, in the city centre. There is a spa, among other things, and also a large rooftop bar with lovely views. Up here we each enjoyed a good drink, while looking out over the city.

10. Be active on Södra Berget

Södra berget is a mountain close to the city that offers wonderful views and lots of different outdoor activities. Here you will find hiking trails, cycling trails, a bike park, a disc golf course and Hotel Södra Berget with spa and relaxation. For the younger ones there are the adventure trails "Björnstigen" and "Tarzanstigen".

11. Visit the Norra Berget open-air museum

Norra Berget is Sundsvall's open-air museum. Here you'll find a large area with historic buildings and different types of farm animals. There is also a restaurant, café, shops and playground, and various events are occasionally organised.

When we were here, we were welcomed to the Sami centre, where a man showed us Sami crafts and told us about the culture. Very interesting!

12. Go shopping at Birsta City.

Birsta City is one of the largest shopping centres in Norrland. Here you will find over 90 different shops with everything from fashion and interior design to building materials and electronics.

13. Swimming on Alnön

There are many different beaches in and around Sundsvall, and when we asked around, it was Alnön that most people suggested. Alnön is a large island off Sundsvall, which has a bridge connection with the mainland.

There are several different beaches around the island, such as Bänkåsvken, Hartungviken, Slädaviken and Tranviken. It is easy to understand that many people like to sunbathe and swim here!

14. admire Merlo Castle

Merlo Slott in Timrå, or Villa Merlo as the building is actually called, was once built as a summer residence for sawmill boss Fredrik Bünsow. Today the building is used as an archive for SCA (Svenska Cellulosa AB). The villa is not shown to the public, but you are welcome to walk in the garden and look at the building from the outside.

15. Take an excursion to Katan's fishing village

Just south of Sundsvall you will find Skatans fiskeläge, a charming place with a guest harbour, bathing area, restaurant, café, smokehouse with fish and delicacies and the possibility of accommodation in the archipelago. In summer, you can even see art in the Skat Gallery.

16. see Galtström Mill

Galtströms Bruk is Medelpad's oldest, largest and last ironworks, which operated between 1673 and 1916. There is a well-preserved and fine mill environment with several old buildings, including the blast furnace and the beautiful manor house. Guided tours are offered during the summer, and you can also take a ride on the steam locomotive Loke or go for a walk in the countryside.

17. Shopping at Selånger Market

Selånger Marknad is an annual event organised in the Bergsåker district and usually attracts around 350 stalls and 100,000 visitors. The popular market is usually organised during the weekend of week 33, i.e. during the month of August.

Want to extend your trip? Combine with a weekend in Örnsköldsvik or Luleå

More to do in Sundsvall

For those who like culture and history

There is, of course, even more to see and do in Sundsvall than our tips. Here are some more suggestions for those who like culture and history.

• Alnö Old Church is a popular summer church on Alnö. (Alnövägen 85A, Alnö)
• Attmars Hembygdsgård displays old buildings and sometimes organises events (Lucksta, Matfors).
• The cemetery in Högom is Norrland's best known burial ground from the late Iron Age (Västra vägen).
• Lörudden fishing village is a fishing village dating back to the 17th century and has a restaurant. (Lörudden, Njurunda)
• Svartvik Industrial Centre showcases a historic environment with historic buildings, café, English park and more.
• Sundsvall Art Association has various exhibitions. (Trädgårdsgatan 20)
• Ceiling walk is a way to get a historical guided tour, on the rooftops of Stenstan.
• Vängåvan fountain was built in 1886 and survived the great city fire.

For those who love nature

Do you like nature best? Then you'll find even more suggestions here for things to do in Sundsvall and the surrounding area.

• Brämön offers nature reserves, the fishing village of Brämöhamn and sandy beaches. You need a boat to get here.
• Haverö streams is a paradise for anyone who enjoys fishing. Fishing licences are available for purchase.
• The Indal Trail follows the deep valley of the Indalsälven river. Here you can hike, paddle, camp and experience Vättaberget.
• Mjällådalen is an area of nipas and dramatic scenery.
• Sidsjö recreational area offers opportunities for hiking, fishing, swimming, canoeing, cross-country skiing, slalom and long-distance skating.
• St Olavsleden is the northernmost pilgrimage trail in the world. The trail is about 580 kilometres long and starts from the Selånger pilgrimage centre.

For those with children

Travelling with children or teenagers? Then you'll find even more tips on things to do in Sundsvall here.

• Boda Borg offers quests with challenges to overcome. (Boda Borg 100, Torpshammar)
• High & Low is an adventure park at Södra Berget, with a zipline and climbing adventure.
• Kayak or canoe can be rented in various places, such as Juniskär kayak or canoe hire in Matfors.
• Strike Club, located on South Mountain, has bowling alleys, Prison Island and more.
• Sundsvalls Slalombacke is a city centre ski slope. (Mogatan 60)

Where can you stay in Sundsvall, or park your campervan?

Best areas to live in and explore

• Centre of Sundsvall (Stenstan) – Perfect if you want to be close to restaurants, shopping and attractions. Here you live in the middle of the grand stone town with walking distance to most things.
• North Mountain – For those who want to live close to nature but still be close to the city center. Quiet area with nice views and proximity to the open-air museum and walking trails.
• South Mountain – Suitable for those who want nature, views and activities. There are hiking trails, spas and hotels here – perfect for an active or relaxing stay.
• Alnön – For beach life and summer vibes. A short drive from town takes you to beaches, the sea and a peaceful environment – perfect during the summer.

Pitches and campsites

If, like us, you are travelling with a camping vehicle, there are also a bunch of different options in and around Sundsvall. We stayed one night in town and then moved to a campsite just outside town.

• Heffners allé car park - Max 24 hours (Under evaluation - subject to change)
• Read Sundsvall's rules on parking for motorhomes
• First Camp Fläsian - Sundsvall

After a night in town, we chose to stay at First Camp Fläsian - Sundsvall. Here you can stand nicely by the water and beach and we chose to spend a whole day doing what we needed - washing clothes.

More city guides nearby

Are you planning more trips nearby? Here you will find more guides with tips on things to see and do in other cities we have visited:

• Things to do in Skellefteå
• Things to do in Örnsköldsvik
• Things to do in Umeå
• Things to do in Luleå
• Things to do in Sundsvall
• Things to do in Hudiksvall